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Just over two years ago, I invited the Prime Minister to launch the National
Challenge to increase the number of companies exporting from one in five to
one in four.

The Government has made exporting a high priority. UK Trade & Investment,
its international trade promotion department, and UK Export Finance , the
Government’s export credit guarantee agency, aided by chambers of commerce,
trade bodies, banks, accountancy firms and lawyers, are focused on providing
support to small businesses entering or growing in the export market.

UKTI and embassy staff around the world are putting an immense effort into
assisting UK companies. In our key markets British business centres are
being set up for companies to use office space, make connections and get the
latest market information.

Businesses can benefit from a plethora of help — expert advice on getting
ready to export — from international trade advisers based around the UK and
from in-market specialists, as well as access to funding to go to trade
shows worldwide and join overseas trade missions .

I have travelled to 56 countries as Trade Minister, and everywhere I go
Britain receives a very warm welcome and a call for more British businesses
to enter their markets. Our business ethos, creativity and high-quality
products and services place UK companies in prime position to succeed
overseas. UK Export Finance’s new products are aimed at SMEs, providing
guarantees and insurance to help to secure contracts and, where appropriate,
direct funding. UKEF has advisers around the UK and in key overseas posts to
support UK business on the ground.

Businesses of all sizes, whether start-ups or established companies, need to
think of exporting as a logical next step. All the evidence from surveys
conducted by academia, the private sector and government shows that
companies that export become significantly more efficient, they earn more,
they last longer, they are more robust and, crucially, they create more
jobs. The benefits are clear.6

Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint is Minister of State for Trade and Investment